Von Miller’s first season with the Bills ended prematurely when he tore his ACL in a game vs. the Lions on Thanksgiving. The pass rusher initially wanted to try and return before the end of the 2022 season, but he ultimately needed season-ending surgery in December.
Now on the mend, Miller has a better idea of his injury timetable after he similarly underwent ACL surgery in 2013 while with the Broncos. Therefore, the Bills star is using that recovery knowledge to help measure his progress the second time around.
“And 10 years removed from that, 2023, I have a whole new outlook,” Miller told 9News in Denver. “I know exactly where I’m supposed to be at two months, four months, six months and in the position where I’m at now, I feel great, I feel comfortable. I feel like I’ll be ready to go at the start of the season.
The Bills are set to open the season on Monday Night Football against Aaron Rodgers and the Jets, an extremely important game so early in the year. Even if he can’t suit up for Buffalo’s opener, Miller expects to return by Week 6, at the very latest.
“I want to be ready week 1 vs. the Jets. Aaron Rodgers, Monday Night Football,” he said. “But at the same time I’m not in control of that. I’m going to do everything I can physically, mentally, emotionally to be ready for that. But if it’s not the first week of the season, then it won’t be any longer than week 6, for sure.”
In his first season with the Bills, Miller played in 11 games and totaled 21 tackles and 8.0 sacks. Once he got injured, Buffalo felt his loss on the way to a divisional round playoff exit.
Given last year’s end result, even though the early regular season remains important, Buffalo will most likely be cautious with Miller to make sure he is ready for the stretch run and playoffs.
